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Curran:

I'd love to stay in Billerica

TOWN MANAGER contract drama in Billerica has turned into a saga during the last few months, and it's even affecting Town Manager John Curran when he heads home after work.

"It's taken quite a toll on me and my family," Curran said this week. "With all the vitriol being displayed in this process, it's not very comfortable for us. The tactics are very concerning from those few people in town.

"There are a few people that are making my life very unpleasant right now," he added.

But despite the political nastiness in Billerica, Curran said he still enjoys working in town and would like to continue doing so under the proposed contract.

"Billerica has enormous potential, and I really want to be part of it," he said. "We've never been in better financial shape, and the proof of that is in the tax rate in December, which may go down. We're building sewers, roads, sidewalks, and we're embarking on a major high school project.

"We're investing in the town and trying to make Billerica affordable," Curran added. "I'm proud of that and would like to continue here despite this unpleasant experience."

At Town Meeting in October, meeting Representative Chris Musker passed out a handout highlighting the contract's changes. She wrote at the end, "How can the town manager effectively negotiate with the collective-bargaining groups when the terms of this proposed contract are far more generous than the terms of any existing collective-bargaining agreement?"

Curran is in line to earn $148,124 per year, which is a one-time 6 percent raise, and be guaranteed 12 months of severance pay if selectmen approve the new contract.

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Three votes out of five are required to approve the contract.

Selectman George Simolaris and Selectman Mike Rosa have been vocal opponents of the new contract terms, the latter of whom called it the "worst contract I've ever seen." On the other side, Selectmen Chairman Dave Gagliardi and Selectman Andrew Deslaurier have been in favor. Selectman Bob Accomando has not commented because an ethics situation is in limbo.

That ethics situation brought fireworks to the most recent selectmen meeting on Nov. 4. The Board of Selectmen was scheduled to vote on Curran's contract at that meeting, but instead voted 3-2 to delay the vote until Nov. 18 because they said Curran was attending a graduate-school class.

Before selectmen could adjourn for executive session, Musker accused three selectmen of delaying the vote and "coming up with excuses" so Accomando, a police dispatcher, would be able to vote in two weeks.

Musker started yelling at Accomando and Gagliardi, saying the Ethics Commission has ruled that Accomando cannot vote on Curran's contract while the manager negotiates with the police dispatcher's union.

After the meeting, Musker handed The Sun a copy of the ethics ruling, concerning whether Accomando can vote on the town manager's contract as dispatcher union negotiations continue.

Scott Cole, special investigator, wrote in the letter: "As a result of that review, and of any necessary follow-up investigation, we have decided that this matter does not warrant further action at this time. This decision is based on our understanding that: the subject intends to abstain from any Board of Selectmen vote on a new contract for the town manager while negotiations between the town manager and the dispatchers' union for a new contract are ongoing."

The dispatcher union has since ratified its contract, so it appears that Accomando will be able to vote on Curran's contract.

Voting on Curran's contract is on the Nov. 18 agenda.

THE SUN has been pursuing filing an appeal of the town of Westford's denial of a request for information surrounding the town fire department. But unfortunately, the public records office within Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin's office reported this week they have no record of an appeal mailed to them, which a Sun reporter sent on Aug. 11.

Patricia Rastellini, a Galvin spokesman, said the office will begin an immediate review of newspaper's request.

In July, The Sun went back and forth with the town requesting a third-party review of the Westford Fire Department we now know was aimed at the former Fire Chief Richard Rochon, who announced his retirement unexpectedly. Rochon said The Sun reporter was trying to hurt him, but declined to answer questions. Rochon said he'd call back with comment but has yet to drop that dime.

Town Manager Jodi Ross said the review of the department in question -- which cost taxpayers $2,500 - could not be released, citing the "personnel information" reason, which, according to Galvin's office, is the most common reason local government denies giving out public information. Westford Firefighters Union President Dave Greenwood said at the time of the review, which was conducted in January, several firefighters were contacted by Marc Wey, a consultant from Carlisle. And Greenwood noted members of the department "had issues" with Rochon back in the day and if things couldn't be resolved, they'd be kicked up to the town manager's office. Ross noted she has hired Wey in the past to conduct "effective leadership training" within the town, but would not say more.

Through the Massachusetts public records request process, after an entity denies a request, it can be appealed to the state.

But with the state accepting the appeal over email we wonder: Why doesn't the state accept all appeals electronically. And how many other snail-mail appeals have been lost in the shuffle?

NOTORIOUS BOSTON gangster James "Whitey" Bulger faced the music last week as he was handed two life sentences, plus five years in prison, for his murders, gun crimes and other offenses. At the Tewksbury Public Library, that -- plus the coming holiday season -- is a cause for celebration.

The library will host a series "Whitey Christmas" programming, welcoming on the first three Tuesday nights in December a series of authors and journalists who have immortalized the infamous--and now proven--killer in print: Boston University professor Dick Lehr, radio talk show host Howie Carr and WCVB journalist Bob Halloran.

On Dec. 17, Halloran will be joined by Steven Davis, brother of Debbie Davis. Though a federal jury in August issued a "no finding" in Davis' murder, her brother remains convinced that Bulger was responsible.

At Bulger's sentencing hearing, Steven Davis said he hopes the crime boss "dies the same way my sister did -- gasping for breath as he takes his last breath."

IT LOOKS like the City Council's vote in early January to select a new mayor could be unanimous, unlike previous years when close votes sparked ill will between some councilors.

Councilor Rodney Elliott says he now has commitments from seven of the eight other councilors he will serve with, after picking up support from Councilors Ed Kennedy, Bill Martin and Councilor-elect James Milinazzo.

Elliott had previously secured commitments from Councilors Mercier and John Leahy and Councilors-elect Corey Belanger and Dan Rourke.

"I'm grateful for the support I've received," Elliott said.

Elliott planned to meet with Councilor-elect William Samaras this weekend.

There could be a contest for the vice chair position. Both Leahy and Belanger have expressed interest.

The vice chair runs the meetings if the mayor is absent and also takes the chair when the mayor comes to the council floor to speak on a topic. A vice chair can also fill in for the mayor at events.

The current mayor, Patrick Murphy, missed last week's council meeting. He was attending the EcoDistricts Summit in Boston Monday through Wednesday. The conference brought people from around the world together to share best practices in sustainable urban neighborhood planning.

DEBATE ABOUT City Councilor Rita Mercier's motion requesting a list of all pending lawsuits against the city turned a bit heated at times on Tuesday.

Mercier had filed the motion because she said she was unaware of a discrimination complaint filed by a former police officer that the city initially lost in 2006 for retaliating after the complaint was filed, though a jury found the city did not discriminate.

The city lost the case on appeal in 2011 and ended up being required to pay former officer Robert Alvarez $642,000.

City Manager Bernie Lynch questioned why he was being put on the hot seat, noting a couple times that the decision to appeal the case was made by then-City Manager John Cox several months before Lynch coming on board in the summer of 2006.

Mercier said she wanted to know if there were any developments in the case from 2006 to 2011, while Lynch was manager, that the council was not told about.

"I'm sure you would like that to be the case, councilor," Lynch responded.

Mercier told The Column she was surprised by Lynch's remark and believed he was implying she wanted to find fault with him.

Elliott asked why the council were not told about the 2011 appeal loss. Lynch did not answer the question. He also did not respond to The Column's request for comment on that question.

Mercier also said she is seeking an answer to how many cases have been appealed and lost by the city in recent years and why it took almost two years from the appeal decision to the city's final payment to Alvarez.

THE GROUP OF Chelmsford Town Meeting representatives who will have the ability to tweak the way the twice-annual meeting runs has been named. Town Meeting members caucused on Nov. 13 and named members who will begin meeting Nov. 20.

Moderator Richard DeFreitas formed the committee to consider changing the way the meeting is run. He said last month too many representatives weren't prepared enough, asking too many unnecessary questions at the meetings.

WITH FORMER Chelmsford Finance Committee Chairwoman Patrice Garvin resigning to take a new job as Shirley town administrator, the committee lost an experienced voice on the budgetary board.

But her replacement, Clare Jeannotte, has an extensive history of public service, having served previously on the Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen, along with other appointed positions.

Jeannotte, a Town Meeting representative from Hawthorne Lane, "has a working knowledge of public finances and budgets and has a keen perception of setting clear priorities and working with citizens in Chelmsford to move forward into a sustaining and positive future," said Moderator Richard DeFreitas, who appointed her.

AFTER NEARLY 16 years at the town of Wilmington, Department of Public Works Superintendent Donald Onusseit worked his last day Friday.

Town Manager Jeff Hull praised Onusseit's contributions to the town, including road construction projects and expansion of the sidewalk network. Hull called Onusseit "instrumental" in getting the town in the state's queue for a redesign of the messy Glen Road/Middlesex Avenue intersection and "always very good about staying within budget -- which is certainly a big plus for me."

"He's certainly been a tremendous asset to the town," Hull said. "He's brought a lot of experience with him from his prior service in Wakefield and Gloucester."

Michael Woods, the town's water and sewer superintendent, is set to take the helm of the DPW in addition to his current role.

In another change at the DPW, highway division foreman Mark Peters will also be retiring, after 40 years of service in the town.

A RED SOX Hall of Famer and unsung hero of the 1975 World Series will be in Billerica next week.

Bernie Carbo, who launched one of the most memorable pinch-hit home runs in Red Sox history, will be the guest speaker at Nov. 24's worship service at New Colony Baptist Church in Billerica, 30 River St.

Carbo will speak to adults and teens during the church's 9:30 a.m. Bible study hour, and then preach during the 10:45 a.m. worship service.

In Game 6 of the 1975 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds, Carbo was a pinch hitter in the eighth inning as the Red Sox were down three runs and facing elimination. Two runners were on base when Carbo came up, and he crushed a home run to tie the game.

In the 12th inning, Carlton Fisk hit the legendary home run that struck the left-field pole to win the game and force a Game 7 ... which the Sox lost.

Contributing to The Column this week: Lyle Moran in Lowell, Rick Sobey in Billerica, Hiroko Sato in Dunstable, Grant Welker in Chelmsford and Katie Lannan in Tewksbury.

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